Friday
Kenya vs Zambia 9:30am
Rwanda vs Zambia 1:30pm
Saturday
Malawi vs Zambia 9:30am
Kenya vs Rwanda 1:30pm
Sunday
Kenya vs Malawi 9:30am
Rwanda vs Zambia 1:30pm
Rwanda senior men's national cricket team head coach Laurence Mahatlane is looking to the future with optimism as he takes charge of his first competition at the Kenya Quadrangular Cup.
The tournament is scheduled to run from June 28 to July 11, featuring Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi and the hosts Kenya. Matches will take place at Sikh Union Club in Nairobi.
The two-week-long tournament is Rwanda's first competition since the ACA T20 Cup Finals League in Johannesburg, South Africa last December.
The 14-man team to the inaugural Kenya Quadrangular Series comprises largely of the same players that featured in South Africa, where Rwanda finished bottom of their group with 2 points from three matches.
There is only one debutant, Yves Cyusa, who comes in for Wilson Niyitanga and Eric Niyomugabo, who were both dropped.
Speaking to Times Sport on Thursday, Mahatlane said, "The boys have worked hard over the last two months and we are really excited seeing where we are."
"We have worked on key aspects of our game and the target for us is to see how we execute what we have worked on," noted the former Uganda coach.
Excitement!
Over the last two-three years, under previous coaches, Rwanda has stagnated, failing to make any significant improvements in both performance and results.
The players, a good majority of them, have failed to really take off in terms of fulfilling their full potential, but Mahatlane thinks he has the tools to get things right.
"(I am) really excited with the squad we have. Our average age is just under 22 years and this gives us time on our side to develop as a team," observed the well-respected South African trainer.
The former South Africa U19 coach added, "I believe we will grow as a team and as a country over the next couple of years by making sure we have the right structures in place."
Rwanda will play against Malawi in their opening match on Friday, June 28, starting at 1:30 PM (CAT). The two teams have previously met on three occasions with Malawi holding the edge 2-1.
Rwanda has also played against Kenya and Zambia before but yet to win against either.
Mahatlane, 47, was appointed in April, on a three-year contract. He replaced Englishman Lee Booth, who had been in the post since June, 2023. Booth took over from Kenyan Martin Suji.
Mahatlane and his team will be using the tournament as part of their preparations for the 2025 World Cup qualifiers later this year.
In 2023, in Namibia, where Rwanda participated in the 2024 T20 World Cup qualification, they failed to win a single game, only managing a draw against Nigeria. Uganda and Namibia qualified as Africa's representatives.
Squad to Kenya:
Players
Yves Cyusa, Zappy Maurice Bimenyimana, Orchide Tuyisenge, Didier Ndikubwimana, Ignace Ntirenganya, Clinton Innocent Rubagumya, Kevin Kabare Irakoze, Martin Akayezu, Oscar Manishimwe, Emile Rukiriza, Eric Kubwimana, Nadir Muhammad, Hamza Khan and Emmanuel Sebareme
Technical staff
Laurence Mahatlane (head coach), Adelin Tuyizere (assistant coach), Jackson Nzayisenga (Team Manager), Theoneste Iyakaremye (Team Physio) and Baptiste Hakizimana (Team Analyst).